Crimea, Sevastopol incorporated into Russia’s Southern Military District

April 02, 2014, 20:18 UTC+3MOSCOWThe Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol have become part of Russia’s Southern Military District, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin

MOSCOW, April 02. /ITAR-TASS/. The Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol have become part of Russia’s Southern Military District, according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin and posted on the official legal information website on Wednesday.

“The Southern Military District is within the administrative borders of the Republic of Agygea, Republic of Dagestan, Republic of Ingushetia, the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Republic of Kalmykia, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Republic of Crimea, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, the Chechen Republic, the Krasnodar, Stavropol territories, the Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov regions and the city of Sevastopol,” the document says.

The decree enters into force on Wednesday.

The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, signed agreements to reunify with Russia on March 18 after a referendum two days earlier in which an overwhelming majority of Crimeans voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation.

The developments followed a coup in Ukraine in February that occurred after months of anti-government protests, which often turned violent. President Viktor Yanukovich had to leave Ukraine citing security concerns. Crimea’s authorities do not recognize the new self-proclaimed Ukrainian leadership in Kiev. Nor do Russia’s authorities.